Bullying: What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying takes the age-old concept of bullying and updates it for the electronic age. Sameer Hinduja, Ph.D. and Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D. define it as “willful and repeated [i.e., a pattern of deliberate behavior, not accidental or singular] harm [as perceived by the target] inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.” http://www.cyberbullying.us/
Expanding technology makes the variety of cyberbullying unlimited in scope. Here are a few examples of behavior that are considered to be cyberbullying:
- sending hateful email or text message(s), signed or anonymously, to an individual
- using a blog to start rumors about an individual
- sending threats and intimidation by email, text message, or posting online
- creating a screen name that is similar to the target’s and then writing inappropriate things - intentionally leading others to believe it is the target individual who is saying those things
- taking a cell phone picture of the target at an embarassing time, then spreading it online
- overloading a person’s phone with text messages
- stealing a person’s password and freezing the person out of their own account
At the extreme, cyberbullying is a significant factor in stalking cases, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Justice released in 2009. Stalking involves a deliberate course of conduct directed at an individual for the purpose of causing fear; behavior that is less threatening was characterized in the study as harassment. More than a quarter of the 3.4 million persons who reported that they had been subject to stalking in 2005-06 reported the use of electronic means, including emails (involved in 83% of reported cyberstalking cases) and instant messaging (found in 35% of those cases).
Seven percent of reported cyberstalking cases involved the use of monitoring devices such as video or electronic tracking. http://www.ojp.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/svus.pdf (pdf)
Drs. Hinduja and Patchin believe that there are a number of reasons that bullies choose cyber-methods. There is little supervision of cyberspace (outside of chat rooms) and for the most part the bully can act anonymously. The bully has the flexibility to work wherever and whenever s/he chooses - s/he does not have to coordinate so as to be in the same place as the target at a given time.
Rather, the means of cyberbullying - computers and cell phones - are ubiquitous and they are becoming more and more indispensable, making the target accessible at all times. Moreover, the doctors theorize that the electronics free the cyberbully from the immediate emotional and psychological consequences of his/her act; there is no feedback to engage the bully’s moral compass.
As with any other kind of bullying, cyberbullying causes stress and anxiety. It should not be ignored or minimized, as the consequences can be devastating (even fatal). Take steps to prevent and counter cyberbullying:
- Don’t reply to messages from a cyberbully.
- Don’t send messages to others when you’re angry.
- Don’t give your password to anyone.
- Use Google or a similar search engine to check frequently for the use of your name.
- Do not delete cyberbullying messages; they can sometimes be traced.
- Report the problem to the proper source. The Equity Office can help you figure out who you need to talk to, including counselors when appropriate.